Human smuggling probe: SUV in California crash entered through hole in border fence, officials say
By: Ryan W. Miller, Grace Hauck and Rafael Carranza (MSN)
We don't need no stinkin' wall............
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Thirteen people who died after a semitruck slammed into their packed SUV near the U.S.-Mexico border were among 44 who entered the United States through a 10-foot hole cut into Southern California's border fence, Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday.
At least 13 dead after truck crashes into SUV packed with 25 people near US-Mexico border USA TODAY See more videos SHARESHARETWEETSHAREEMAIL What to watch next
"All are suspected to have entered the U.S. illegally," the agency said in a statement. "Border Patrol is investigating the smuggling events."
Two cars were seen on surveillance video leaving the area of the fence hole around 6 a.m. PT Tuesday, according to the agency.
One vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban, carried 19 people and caught fire after entering the U.S. and traveling 30 miles to the intersection of Interstate 8 and State Route 115, the agency said. All passengers escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents.
© Gregory Bull, AP Law enforcement officers sort evidence and debris at the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., on March 2. Authorities say a semitruck crashed into an SUV carrying 25 people on a Southern California highway, killing at least 13 people.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
The other vehicle, a 1997 Ford Expedition with seats removed, was carrying 25 people when a big rig hit the SUV's side at the intersection of SR 115 and Norrish Road near Holtville, California, said Omar Watson, Highway Patrol Division chief.
The crash occurred about 10 miles north of the border. A Mexican government official said at least 10 of the people who died were Mexican nationals.
© U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents reported a 10-foot breach in the International Boundary Fence between Mexico and the United States on March 2, 2021.
"At no point" did Border Patrol "attempt to stop or pursue either vehicle," the agency said. The opening in the fence was about 30 miles east of the crash in the heart of California's Imperial Valley, a major farming region. The area has long been a significant route for illegal border crossings.
"We pray for the accident victims and their families during this difficult time," Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol's El Centro sector chief, said in a statement. "Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life. Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with."
In a statement, Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, whose 56th Assembly District includes Holtville, offered condolences for the victims and stressed "comprehensive immigration reform" is necessary to prevent the dangers people face while crossing the border.
"Our broken immigration system is a humanitarian, public and economic crisis impacting communities on both sides of the border," he said. "Tragedies like this place wider public attention on the dark realities of our immigration struggle in the United States and the danger immigrant families face for a chance at a better life."
Here's what we know now:
What happened in the crash?
A preliminary report released Tuesday by the Highway Patrol said the SUV, driven by a 28-year-old resident of Mexico, "entered the intersection directly in front" of a Peterbilt truck. Police said it wasn't clear why the SUV entered the intersection, but the truck struck its left side, immediately killing the SUV driver.
Watson said 12 people were killed at the scene and a 13th person died in the hospital. Several people were flung from the SUV while others managed to get out by the time police responded, Watson said. A few others had to be freed from the SUV.
"It would be premature for me to speculate or discuss what caused this collision. What we have to keep in mind is that 13 people died in this crash," Watson said Tuesday. "It's a very sad situation."
The crash explained visually | Leer en espanol
Paramedics took 11 people to area hospitals, police said. Seven went to El Centro Regional Medical Center, where one of them died. The status of three of those patients wasn't immediately available Wednesday, but the remaining three were transferred to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Brawley.
Of those three, one was released with minor injuries while the other two were flown to Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. They were to be treated for life-threatening injuries, said Karina Lopez, Pioneers public affairs liaison.
Going back to 2016 there have been three collisions at Highway 115 and Norrish Road.
Who was killed and injured in the crash?
Police have not released the names of the victims. The ages of those in the SUV range from 15 to 53. No children were killed in the crash, police said.
The SUV's driver was from Mexicali, Mexico. Roberto Velasco, director of North American affairs for Mexico's Foreign Relations Department, confirmed that 10 of the people killed were Mexican.
The Mexican Consulate in Calexico said Wednesday that it had begun notifying the families of the Mexican nationals killed in the crash, but they shared few new details.
"We know that there are families in the United States, as well as in several states in Mexico. The consulate has reached out to six families of the deceased individuals," said Mario Beltran Mainero, press officer for the consulate. "We're working to reach all of them."
The consulate declined to say whether the 10 Mexican nationals killed, and the others who were injured, were part of a smuggling operation, deferring to U.S. officials.
Beltran Mainero said at least one of the six families they located is in San Diego; the remaining families are in Mexico. Four Mexican nationals who sustained minor injuries were released from the hospital in El Centro on Tuesday and were not in the custody of U.S. immigration or border officials, he said.
One man, Tony Hernandez, told Univision his relatives from Michoacan, 25 and 32, died in the crash. He said they were on their way to Los Angeles. "I already talked to my relatives. They are devastated," Hernandez said.
The truck driver, Joe Beltran, 68, of El Centro, was also taken to the hospital with "major injuries," the preliminary crash report said.
Why were so many people in the SUV?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that special agents from its Homeland Security Investigations unit in San Diego "have initiated a human smuggling investigation" but offered no further details.
A 1997 Expedition can carry a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds. If it had 25 people inside, that would easily exceed the payload limit, taxing the brakes and making it tougher to steer the vehicle, said Frank Borris, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation.
"You're going to have extended stopping distances, delayed reactions to steering inputs and potential over-reaction to any type of high-speed lane change," said Borris, who now runs a safety consulting business.
SUVs of that age tend to be top-heavy even when not carrying a lot of weight, Borris said. "With all of that payload above the vehicle's center of gravity, it's going to make it even more unstable."
Guatemalan casualties
Tekandi Paniagua, the Guatemalan Consul in Los Angeles confirmed that a 23-year-old woman from Guatemala died in Tuesday's crash. Two other women, ages 46 and 22, received contusions and internal hemorrhages. They remained hospitalized Wednesday in stable condition, he added.
However, Paniagua said that there were between eight to ten people whose identities had not been confirmed yet. He said it was almost certain that some of the other migrants killed or injured in the crash are also from Guatemala.
"Since yesterday, we've been receiving and establishing an intra-consular coordination among our sister consulates in New York, in Dallas and in Houston because several family members had reported their suspicions that their relatives were on board that truck," Paniagua said.
The consulate has already contacted the family members of the 23-year-old woman killed in the crash who live in New York and in Guatemala, he said.
According to information provided by family members to the consulate, some of the migrants involved in the crash had left Guatemala on Feb. 2 on their way to the U.S., Paniagua said. They made their way to Mexicali, where they were kept inside a home for eight days, before smugglers transported across the U.S.-Mexico border, he added.
Paniagua cast some of the blame for Tuesday's crash on misinformation circulating among migrants, and also coming from smugglers, about the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.
"They have to know that the border remains just as guarded as it has always been. I think there has been some bad messaging, and that has stimulated in certain ways the migration flows in the last few days," he said. "There are some policy changes, but they are so small that they don't really benefit in any way these migrants, who may have received a message that is very different from what is really happening."
He feared a possible increase in similar incidents in the future and said that the consulate in Los Angeles would be paying close attention should California emerge as an alternate migration route to south Texas. That remains the principal crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border for migrants from Guatemala and Central America, including large numbers of accompanied and unaccompanied minors.
What is the area like?
Barely a mile from the site of the crash, a cemetery with unmarked bricks is a burial ground for migrants who died crossing the border from Mexico.
In 2001, John Hunter founded Water Station, a volunteer group that leaves jugs of water in giant plastic drums for dehydrated migrants. "I was trying to figure out how to stop the deaths," said Hunter, whose brother Duncan strongly advocated for border wall construction as a congressman.
In the early 2000s, the El Centro Sector, which covers most of Imperial County's border with Mexico, was among the busiest smuggling routes along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Border Patrol statistics. But apprehensions began to decrease significantly after 2007, when the U.S. government installed border fence upgrades along the region.
The number of migrant apprehensions remained steady since then. They bottomed out after Donald Trump took office in 2017. But they climbed steadily once again, and peaked in October 2020, despite restrictions at the border over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration installed more than 20 miles of 30-foot bollard fencing in the El Centro Sector, including the first sections of new barriers completed under his term. Another 11 miles of fencing are under contract, and 13 miles of secondary barriers are in the pre-construction phase, according to CBP. But it remains unclear if those sections will get built, since President Joe Biden has pledged to stop border wall construction.
Tuesday's breach in the border fence, prior to the deadly crash, occurred in an area with older fencing built after 2007. It was made of steel bollards that were built before Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground.
While apprehensions have decreased in El Centro in recent months, the number of migrants that border agents have encountered along the entire U.S.-Mexico border is up. In January, agents apprehended more than 75,000 migrants, the highest numbers since the 2019 surge in migrant families overwhelmed border officials.
The area is also a large commuter stretch for thousands of farmworkers who legally cross the border each day. Imperial Valley, which provides much of the lettuce, onions, broccoli and winter vegetables to U.S. supermarkets, is wrapping up its winter harvest. Many workers commute daily from Mexico during the harvest, taking buses and SUVs to the fields from downtown Calexico just before dawn.
United Farm Workers' spokesperson Marc Grossman said union workers had learned the people in the SUV were not farmworkers, though tragedies such as these used to be distressingly common for farmworkers. He recalled an accident in 1999 that killed 13 tomato pickers in west Fresno County after a crash impaled many on their own tools.
Contributing: Kate Cimini, Emily LeCoz, Christal Hayes, USA TODAY; The Associated Press; Colin Atagi, (Palm Springs) Desert Sun; Javier Arce, La Voz Arizona
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Human smuggling probe: SUV in California crash entered through hole in border fence, officials say
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Reminds me of a sign I once saw on someone's front door.
"This door isn't here for my protection. It's here for yours."
Sad ending to a sadder story for many. RIP
Another day along the border. The Biden administration say's it's not a crisis!
I remember being told about the 'HORDES' that were coming here from South of the border right before the 2018 midterms, while 45 was alive and in charge, supposedly, at least. What happened after the election, cause the former potUS never mentioned them again, cause there will always be illegals attempting to enter, and a ridiculous wall, even more ridiculous in cost, is not even close to a solution. When politically convenient and or deemed necessary to inflame an ignorant based fantasy laced group of gullibles, they love to scare all the trembling Trumpers and overstuffed vehicles, obviously without bumpers, careening through the streets crashing and burning all sounds pretty scary to many of The Trumpers, Bible Thumpers, and inbred leg humpers, but seriously, what has ole Joe actually done to create this mad rush like a Thanksgiving Maced Parade attacking OUR Capitol cause they couldn't get laid by a chick, an they tend to make people sick , up and Fed, expressed by what was said by a fool excited by his incitement, where the blind truly do lead the blind, seeing eye dogs in the dark, perhaps for a photo opp, across from some White House, in a park...
Imagine how many come when a president gives them the green light?
what has ole Joe actually done
He deliberately tore apart the policies that kept the border secure. This is a self created crisis.
Seems MANY disagree with that statement................
wow, what a surprise.
And those that disagree are usually wearing red, made in China, MAGA hats.
A few days after taking office when Kamala Harris went on Univision and essentially outlined the Biden administration’s amnesty plan. The new administration would be suspending deportations for 100 days, they would be granting green cards to TPS holders, outlining their pathway to citizenship for the 11-plus million [illegal immigrants] in the United States, etc..etc..etc..
You got your answer.
As many lawyers would say: You should never ask a question if you don't know what the answer will be.
Yep!
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In the early 2000s, the El Centro Sector, which covers most of Imperial County's border with Mexico, was among the busiest smuggling routes along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Border Patrol statistics. But apprehensions began to decrease significantly after 2007, when the U.S. government installed border fence upgrades along the region.
It seems that walls work.
not if you got a small cordless grinder, a few steel cutting wheels and a spare battery or two, cause that wall is breached, like a sperm whale that reached the shore, to be the sands beach, slapped silly cause in reach, looking for a straight away to the bank, turned till out ranked is the mammal equivalent of a towed Camel
One month is not 6 months.
yea, by then he'll be in his second trimester
I'll always post the reminder.
if you want, i'll boast something even finer every time ewe feel the need, cause i'll be happy to make you feel needy
He served his entire term and we had a deal.
[removed]
Yup, a full term!
[deleted]
The very thing you thought so inconceivable that you staked 6 months on it. So many were so convinced that he had to be a Russian agent, that he had to be a crook, that there had to be something to find. A daily attack by the msm, distortions of every word the man said, two faux impeachments and changing election laws & news suppression to favor Biden. They got him out, but not before he served every day of his term.
what's the matter Vic, need some moderation, cause what i wrote was not taunting, YOU WILL KNOW when i'm taunting you, but do what you gotta do, cause nothin new
Nobody took your statement down. Didn't like the answer?
and again, special needy needs will be what i feeds ewe, cause you're my special boy Ned, do want to Beatty on it ? Was it something i said, cause the initial wager was for a month, and if you think you're going to enjoy being a toy, oh boy, Almond Joy, cause here comes some nuts, fallen from a treason out of season and picked by immigrants that want nuts fed to those with bruised chin UPS delivered fresh daily, to ice down their ego's, cause some got ID, but won't vote, some like to kid, so c'mon and Goat, cause i'll milk this till the cows come home and then they won't leave you a loan you'll have not the interest to pay me back, so i want it in full, up frontal, as peppered with assaulted nuts and such, and some pearls to clutch, they go swell with swine, and the flesh of animal crackers that protest their prejudged notions with evidence to fill oceans as to who truly lost the race, just in case, load on ones face, an expression ewe can taste, cause i'll learn to cut and paste , so you can stick, to youir diet, and like the Capitol, it will be a Riot....
Four complete years! I never doubted he would serve his full term.
Well that would have been silly Vic, cause if the Republicans weren't such pussy cat fish tales without scales to bring justice, so as it could prevail over one LOW LIFE PIECE of $hit, cause that tight OJ glove did tightly fit over upon where you should have spit, cause, spit on the glove, or no love, Vic
as you can as well, as the ONLY TWICE IMPEACHED POS who is NOT yet out of reach, from STATE LAWS, that we will see drag Trump down and out of any future political pageantry, cause it ain't gonna be a beauty Clark
i love me some bitter pills, cause i'll swallow them like BEER, actually with my BEER, you two have fun echoing into each others canyons, gotta go open the corner bar on the encircled
i'll rest just fine, but did you ever think, about how trump drove his illegal Whoreds to the brink, and THEY AND HE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF A FEW LAW OFFICERS AND SUCH
Y do you suppose you CAN'T SEE the republican Brain Infection,
gotta go but can't wait to see again you and my bud, cause i've just begun
the Fun like Father taking candy out for the boyz, cause i luv me some new toyz
OUT without a doubt
Don't think they quite caught the full gist of my in their face, sprayed, asz I a hit, n they a mist, like the thoroughly pist,\
therapist, that I can be whence needed is the mentoring steady hand of a counselor, that I will lend, to hold their heads above water, all as I lead them astray, like a lamb to the slaughter, and obviously, a tad of mint jelly on the side
The very next paragraph:
Seems they don't.
Trump couldnt get the border wall built in 4 years. Lazy ass watched tv all damn day.
You mean democrats obstructed. We know, but he did manage to build wall against all the firm pledges of no money for the wall and more importantly he created a deal with Mexico and other countries to hold asylum seekers there while their requests were being processed. That was a great deal. Biden destroyed it...WHY?
yea, so Bannen solicited Millions from Trumps' gullible minions , and kept the cash, cause Don only surrounded himself with the best and the brightest, as he DRAINED THE SWAMP, to find the BEST OF THE WORSE, as that was his pledge, and man, he delivered like a Ned Beatty obscene pig squealing while gettin porked in the beans for dealing doe like a hoe hog tied and deep fried
And the dems needed to change election laws.
Ya, they did!
has what to do with the wall again ?
I thought nothing like that was happening though? I thought they applied for asylum?
excellent point, that points out to say VIC, what does ole Joes policy have to do with these that breached the wall, cause irregardless, they had planned on breaking on through to see me and you. Say something in Spanish flies in the face of reason, as what has been claimed as Biden's shame, is nothing but a game, for people that have to work on playin, cause what i'm sayin, is ole Joes' policies announced by Miss Harris, have not much to do with the few that crashed and burned, and guessin shoulda learned earlier in life.
If you're asking Vic a question, why are you replying to my questions with questions aimed at Vic? I'm not Vic.
my bad, all apologies
Responding to a radio dispatch about a red Suburban engulfed in flames, border agents found 19 migrants “hiding in the brush nearby” who had illegally entered the United States in the vehicle, the Border Patrol said in a statement. All 19 people were taken into custody, it said.
The Expedition, packed with 25 people, its seats ripped out except for that of the driver and front-seat passenger, continued to travel west. The tractor-trailer slammed into its side when the S.U.V. advanced into an intersection along State Route 115, a road surrounded by farming fields.
Well, it was only 44 ILLEGAL ALIENS - this time.